Ghanaian-born woman elected first black chair of UK Bar Council
The United Kingdom’s Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has appointed a person of colour to lead the organisation for the first time in its 131-year history.
Ghanaian-born King’s Counsel Barbara Mills achieved the historic feat this week when she was inaugurated chair of the council.
What’s more is that Mills will lead the Bar Council’s first all-female officer team in its history, alongside Vice-Chair, King’s Counsel Kirsty Brimelow; and Treasurer Lucinda Orr.
Called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1990 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2020, Mills has a distinguished career specialising in complex child cases, according to an article by the Solicitors Journal.
The website reported that Mills regularly represents local authorities and guardians in care proceedings and has extensive expertise in international private law matters heard before the high court.
Mills is joint head of chambers at 4PB – one of the leading family law sets in England and Wales. She is also a deputy high court judge.
According to the Solicitors Journal, Mills said she was “delighted and deeply humbled” by the appointment. She reportedly outlined that her priorities for the year include raising the profile of family law, supporting government efforts to reduce violence against women and girls, promoting wellbeing as a core skill for barristers, and advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion across the Bar.